Regulator



Feb. 25, 1941.

B. F. WADDELL 2,233,117

REGULATOR Filed June 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet J.

ATTORNEYS B. F. WADDELL Feb. 25, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NA m $5 ATTORNEYS Feb. 25, 1941. a. F. WADDELL2,233,117

\ \l I gVZ/[XTOR BY g ATTORN EYS Patented Feb. 25, 1941 PATENT OFFICEREGULATOR Benson r. Waddell, Jackson Heights, N. Y., as-

signor to The Wilcolator Company, Newark, N. 1., a corporation ofDelaware 1 Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,347

16 Claims. (Cl. 236-94) This invention relates to regulators forcontrolling the'temperature in ovens, refrigerators, and similarappliances, and has particular reference to a novel regulator of thistype which is operable 5 automatically by the'rmo-responsive meanstomaintain a predetermined temperature in the appliance, and which may beadjusted to different temperature settings corresponding to thetemperature which it is desired to maintain. The

10 new regulator is of compact construction and is accurate and reliablein operation. For illustrative purposes, the invention will be describedand illustrated in connection with an m oven, although it is to beunderstood that it may be employed for regulating the temperature inother appliances as well.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide oven regulators with apointer for indicating when the 20 oven has reached a certaintemperature. One

such regulator which has long been in use comprises a valve operable bya thermostat in the oven, and a dial movable to diflerent temperaturesettings for adjusting the valve. The pointer cooperates with apermanently fixed index and may be moved relative thereto by both thedial and the thermostat. When the oven is to be heated, the dial is setto the desired temperature and through its connection with the pointercauses the pointer to move to one side of the index, the low side,indicating that the oven is below the temperature for which the dial isset. As the temperature in the oven rises, the thermostat moves thepointer back toward its initial position under the index and moves thevalve toward its seat, and whenthe oven is at the temperature for whichthe dial is set, the valve is in its throttling position and the pointeris under the index, indicating that the desired temperature has been 40reached. If the oven temperature should continue to increase or"overshoot, the thermostat moves the valve closer to'the seat and movesthe pointer to the opposite side of the index, the high side, thusshowing that the oven temperd ature is above that for which the dial isset. If the dial is set from a high to a low temperature,

the pointer moves to the high side of the index to indicate that theoven is too hot, and as the oven cools to the lower temperature, thethermostat moves the pointer back toward its index, in-

actual temperature of the oven when the pointer is out of registry withthe index. That is, when the pointer is displaced from the index, itindicates only whether the oven temperature is above or below that forwhich the dial is set. Also, 5 these regulators as devised heretoforeare generally cumbersome and bulky by reason of the indicating means.One-feature of the present invention, therefore, resides in theprovision of a novel temperature regulator of compact constructionincluding an indicator which performs the dual function of showing therelation between the oven temperatureand that for which thedial is set,and of indicating the actual temperatures in the oven as the heating andcooling progresses. A regulator made in accordance with my inventioncomprises a valve or other means for controlling the supply of a heatingmedium to the oven, and an element responsive to temperature changes inthe oven for automatically regulating the control means to maintain thedesired temperature. The temperature to be maintained in the oven may beselected by a handle for adjusting the control means, the handle beingmovable to difierent temperature settings determined by an indexcooperating with a scale of temperature graduations. The indicatingmeans preferably comprises a pointer operatively connected tothethermoresponsive element and movable thereby relative to the index toindicate whether the oven temperature is higher or lower than that forwhich the handle is set, the pointer being also movable by thethermo-responsive element over the scale of gradations to indicatethereon the different oven temperatures.

In the preferred construction, the adjustment handle is in the form of adial having the scale of temperature graduations thereon whichcooperates with a fixed index, and the pointer is connected to the dialas well as to the thermo-responsive element, so that the pointer moveswith the dial and scale. The connection between the pointer andthermo-responsive element is such that it is not affected by movement ofthe pointer with the dial and scale, and accordingly the pointerindicates the oven temperature on the scale regardless of the setting ofthe dial, The parts may be so arranged that when the oven is 5 at roomtemperature and the dial in its ofi" position, the thermo-responsiveelement maintains the pointer in a vertical position pointing upwardlyto the "off position on the scale under the index, indicating that theoven is not in use.

In setting the regulator to start the oven, the dial is turned until thetemperature graduation on the scale corresponding to the desired oventemperature is opposite the fixed index, whereby the control means isset to the proper position. As the dial is turned, the scale and pointerturn with it so that the pointer continues to point to its initial oroff position on the scale but moves to one side of the index, indicatingthat the oven temperature is too low. As the oven commences to heat, thethermo-responsive means moves the pointer along the dial scale backtoward its initial position under the index, the pointer indicating inits travel along the scale the actual temperatures in the oven as theheating progresses. When the oven attains the desired temperature, thepointer arrives back to its initial position under the index and pointsto that temperature on the scale for which the dial is set. If the oventemperature should thereafter continue to increase or overshoot, thethermo-responsive means moves the pointer further along the dial scaleto the other side of the index, whereby the pointer indicates that theoven temperature is too high and also indicates in actual degrees on thescale the extent to which the temperature is too high. Any furtheradjustment of the dial causes the pointer to move with the scale anddial without affecting the connection between the pointer and thethermo-responsive means, so that the pointer continues to indicate onthe scale the temperature in the oven. I

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of atemperature regulator for gas ovens or the like which includes a novelvalve assembly. Temperature regulators for gas ovens generally include acasing having gas inlet and outlet ports and a valve in the casingbetween the ports. In

one type of gas regulator, the valve is disposed intermediate the endsof the casing, and the valve member is connected to a thermo-responsiveelement at the rear end of the casing by a rod extending through anopening in the valve member and movable therein to accommodate overshooIn regulators of this type as devised heretofore, the valve is generallyclosed by seating of the valve member on the rim of a central opening inthe casing forming a gas passage between the inlet and outlet ports, thepassage in some instances also serving to accommodate a valve adjustmentshaft which extends through the gas passage from a. temperatureadjustment handle at the front end of the casing. With thisconstruction, the opening in the .valve member through which theconnection from the thermoresponsive element extends must be sealed toprevent the passage of gas to the burner when the valve is closed, andthe provision of adequate sealing means involves an appreciable item ofexpense.

In the preferred form of my new gas regulator, the valve, temperatureadjustment handle and thermo-responsive element are arranged in straightline relation, with the handle and thermo-responsive element at theopposite ends of the casing and the valve intermediate the ends. Thethermo-responsive element is connected to the valve by a rod extendingthrough a centralv opening in the valve member and slidable therein toaccommodate overshoot, and the connection is adjustable by a,shaft-extending from the adjustment handle through -a passage in thecasing which leads to the opening in the valve member. However, thispassage is separate from the gas passage in the valve seat, the latterpassage being offset laterally from the first passage. Preferably, thegas passage surrounds the first passage and is separated therefrom by anannular part of the casing, and when the valve is closed, the valvemember seats against the annular part and closes the end of the gaspassage from the corresponding end of the first passage and the openingin the valve member. Accordingly, when the valve member is seated, thepassage of gas between the inlet and outlet ports is prevented,irrespective of the fit between the valve member and the connectionextending therethrough.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of abimetallic member of novel construction which may be used as athermoresponsive element, such as a compensator, in a temperatureregulator. Bimetal has long been used in thermo-responsive devices as anactuating element, butas commonly made heretofore it is in the form of asubstantially flat sheet which bows in response to temperature changes.I have found that such a sheet is resistant to thermostatic bowing dueto the fact that temperature changes cause it to bow both longitudinallyand transversely, and when the sheet bows slightly in a transversedirection it strongly resists bowing in a longitudinal direction.Accordingly, the work obtainable from the bimetal is limited by thetransverse bowing thereof. In the bimetallic element of the presentinvention, this resistance, to thermostatic bowing is substantiallyeliminated by forming the sheet with transverse corrugations. With thisconstruction, the corrugations resist transverse bowing of the sheetwithout resisting longitudinal bowing thereof, and since the sheet ismaintained substantially straight in a transverse direction at alltimes, the longitudinal bowing is unretarded. Accordingly, the movementobtainable from the bimetal in response to a given temperature change issubstantially greater than in prior bimetallic elements of the samesize.

These and other features of the invention may be better understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is alongitudinal section through one form of the new regulator adapted foruse with gas ovens;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, are reduced sections on the lines 3--3 to 8-8,respectively, in Fig. .1;

Fig. 9 is a reduced front view of the dial shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l0 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of part of the temperature indicating meansshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 12 is a. section through part of another form of the new regulatoradapted for use with I electric ovens. 7

Referring to Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings, the device there showncomprises a casing made up of a front section 20 and a hollow body 2|secured thereto by bolts 22 (Fig. 4) to form a maincham; ber 23.Preferably, packing 24 is interposed between the section 20 and body 2|to make the chamber 22 gas-tight. A central passage 25 extends forwardlyfrom chamber 23 through the casing and through a hollow boss 26 formedat the front end of section 20. Surrounding the inner end of passage 25is an annular passage 21 formed in the section 20 and communicating withchamber 23. The passage 2l terminates in a double seat make up of aninner annular portion 28 and an outer annular portion 28, and

" responsive means which may take various forms but preferably comprisesa bellows 33 sealed within a cup 34 connected .to the rear end of thecasing by bolts 35, the bellows and cup together forming expansible andcontractibie chamber 36. The open end of the cup 34 is sealed to thecasing by an annulus 31 interposed between the rear end of the casingand a flange 34' on the cup. At its rear end, the cup 34 has an openingin which the end of a capillary tube 38 is sealed, the tube leading fromthe chamber 36 to a bulb (not shown) adapted to be located in the oven.The bulb, tube and chamber 36 are filled with a thermo-responslveliquid, such as chlorinated diphenol. A headed pin 40 has its headseated against the end of the bellows and extends forwardly into chamber23 through the annulus 31 and a central opening in the rear end of thecasing, the front end of the pin being reduced. A spring 46 coiledaround pin 46 bears at one end against the rear ,end of the casing andat the opposite end against the head of the pin and tends to expand thebellows and compress the liquid in chamber 36.

A metal strap 42 in chamber 23 is formed with a central opening throughwhich the reduced end 4| of pin 40 extends, .the strap being normallyseated against a shoulder 4| on the pin formed by the reduced end. Theends of strap 42 are inclined forwardly relative to the central portionthereof and are reduced in width at their extremities to form lugs 42'(Fig. 5). A strip of bimetal 43 is disposed in front of strap 42 and isseated against the inclined ends of the strap, the bimetal beingpreferably formed with transverse corrugations 43' (Fig. 1). At its endsthe strip 43 is formed with lugs 44 similar to the lugs 42' and the lugs42' and 44 extend through openings in the legs of a U-shaped retainer 45made of spring metal. The ends of the retainer are bent backwardly andits'intermediate portion has an opening through which a square, headedrod 46 extends, the head of the rod engaging the rear face of retainer45 and normally'bearing'against the central corrugation of bimetallicstrip 43. The rod extends forwardly through a central opening in valvemember 29 and is formed at its front end with a reduced, threadedportion46'. The rod 46 fits relatively loosely in the central opening in thevalve member, and the edges of the opening are rounded so that the valvemember may adjust itself on the rod to properly seat on the valve seat26-26'. Coiled around the rod 46 is a spring 41 which bears at one endagainst the retainer 45 and at the opposite end against valve member 29.An adjustment nut 46 threaded on the reduced end of the rod normallyengages the front face of valve member 26 and may be screwed on the rodto adjust the valve member.

The nut 46 may be adjusted on rod 46 by manual adjustment meanscomprising a hollow shaft 56 extending through the passage 25 in thecasing and the hollow boss 26. The shaft 56 is formed with a shoulder56' which normally engages a co-acti'n'g shoulder in passage 25, therebydetermining the axial position of the shaft in the casing. At its rearend, shaft 56 is formed with longitudinal slots 5| into which aplurality of radial lugs 48' on the adjustment nut 48 extend. Near itsfront end, the shaft 5|! is formed with circumferential, axially-spacedgrooves 52, in one of which a washer 53 is located (Fig. 7). The washeris formed with an en- 'larged opening 53' offset from the center of thewasher and a relatively narrow slot 53" extending from the openingthrough the center ,of the washer. Accordingly, the washer may bemounted on the shaft by inserting the end of the shaft through theenlarged opening 53', sliding the washer along the shaft until it isopposite one of the grooves 52, and then moving the washer radially toengage the sides of the narrow slot 53" in the groove 52. The washer isthus securely located axially on the shaft. At the end of the slot 53",the washer is formed with a forwardly extending, integral key 54disposed in a keyway 55 in the shaft.

In front of the washer 53 is a dial washer 56 provided with a forwardlyextending collar 56' closely surrounding the shaft 50. The washer 56 isalso formed with a forwardly extending, integral finger 51 near the topand with a flattened peripheral portion 51' at the bottom (Fig. 7) fromwhich an ear 56 projects. The washer 56 is considerably larger indiameter than washer 53 and is clamped thereto by a pair of screws 59extending through the washer 56 outside the periphery of washer 53 andthreaded into a stop washer 66 (Fig. 6). A rearwardly extending stop 6|on washer 60 co-acts with a lug 6| (Fig. 2) on the boss 26.

A hollow dial 63 is mounted on the dial washer 51 and is secured theretoby a screw 64 extending' through a radial opening in the dial andthreaded into the finger 51. The ear 56 on the,

flange 65, and seated against the inside of the flange is a transparentdisk 66 through which the interior of the dial is exposed. The disk 66is held against flange 65 by a wire ring 61 interposed between the backof the disk and a plurality of lugs 66 on the inside of the dial. Asshown in Fig. 9, the face of the dial around the disk 66 is providedwith a scale of temperature graduations 69 which extends from the lowestgraduation to the highest in a direction opposite to the direction ofthe thread on rod 46. In the embodiment illustrated, the thread 46' is aright hand thread, and; accordingly the-,. scale 6-9. ex-

tends in a counter-clockwise direction from the The temperature in theoven is indicated on the dial 63 by means comprising a generallycylindrical bushing 16 threaded in the bore of hollow shaft 56 andformed with an enlargement 16' which fits against a shoulder in theshaft.

An elongated screw 1|, made of drill rod, 'or the like, extends throughthe bushing 19-and is formed with a square thread or groove 1| nor--mally located in an enlargement'of the bore in the bushing. The threadII. is similar to the thread 46 in thatit extends in the same directionor, more particularly, is a righthand thread,

and the lead of the thread ll bears a definite relation to that ofthread 46', as will be described presently in greater detail. A. springI2 coiled around the rear end of bushing I and screw 1| bears at one endagainst the enlargement of the bushing and at its opposite end against ashoulder on adjustment nut 48. The spring I2, therefore, urges thebushing and shaft 26 to the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, therebymaintaining the shoulder 50' of the shaft seated against the co-actingshoulder in the casing,

The rear end of screw H, which is pointed, engages the front end of rod46, and when the rod is moved to the left upon expansion of chamber 36,the screw II is moved to the left through the bushing and is caused torotate therein by a screw 13 which extends radially through enlargementIII of the bushing into the square thread H. A screw I3 in the bushing,diametrically opposed from the screw 13, may be removed to permitpassage of a lubricant into the bushing. When the rod 46 is moved to theright upon contraction of chamber 36, the screw II is caused to followthe rod by the action of a spring 14 coiled around the screw in front ofbushing 10. The front end of spring 14 extends through a transverseopening I6 in the screw, and the rear end of the spring is seated in arecess 16 in the front end of bushing I0 and has a portion I4 extendingradially through the bushing and wound around the base of an annulargroove therein. When the screw II is moved to the left by rod 46, spring14 is wound up and is also subjected to tension, so that when the rod 46moves back to the right, both the tension and the torsion in spring I4urge the screw to follow the rod. 'I'he screw H in its return movementis thus caused to rotate in the bushing in a direction opposite to thatin which it was rotated by forward movement of rod 46. Mounted on thefront end of screw II is a metal sleeve 18 which fits tightly over thescrew and rotates therewith. A disk I9 is forced over the end of sleeve18 and is held securely thereon by friction. The front face of disk 18is provided with an arrow 80 (Fig. 9) which is visible through thetransparent disk 66v inthe face of the dial.

When the regulator is not in use, the dial 63 may be in its off positionshown in Fig. 9, wherein a low temperature or off section of the dial isunder a fixed index on the range (not shown). In this position of thedial, the stop 6| on washer 60 is in engagement with lug 6l' on thecasing and prevents rotation of the dial in a counterclockwisedirection. Also, the valve member 29 is seated over gas passage 21, soas to cut off the supply of gas to the oven burner. With the oven atroom temperature and the parts in the positions described, the bellows33 through its connection with rod 46 maintains the screw II in such aposition that pointer 80 is vertical and points upwardly to the index.

sired, the dial is turned through a small angle "so that the nut 48 isscrewed only a short dis- ;tance to the right and the valve member isunseated only a small amount, but if a higher tema larger angle to bringone of the higher temperature graduations under the index, therebyscrewing the nut 48 a greater distance along rod 46 and unseating thevalve a greater amount. It will be observed that the bushing 10 rotateswith the dial and shaft 50, so that screw II in the bushing and thepointer 80 on the screw turn with the dial. Therefore, when the dial isset with the oven at room temperature, the pointer 80, turning clockwisewith the dial, continues to point to the word off on the dial regardlessof the temperature to which it is set, thus showing the operator thatthe oven is still at room temperature.

As the temperature in the oven increases, due to opening of the valve,the bellows 33 is contracted and acts through pin 46, strap 42,bimetallic strip 43, rod 46 and spring 41 to move ,the valve toward itsseat. This movement of rod 46 also moves screw H to the left against theaction of spring 14, whereby the screw is rotated. in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the front of the regulator.The pointer 80 is thus rotated in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 9)toward the lowest graduation on scale 69, and when the oven temperaturereaches 250, the pointer indicates the corresponding temperature on thescale. Assuming, for example, that the dial is'set to 400, so that thegraduation .400 is under the index, the pointer 80 gradually moves upthe scale as the oven temperature increases and finally assumes itsinitial vertical position under the fixed index, and also undergraduation 400, at which time the oven temperature corresponds to thatfor which the dial is set. Throughout its movement along the scale, thepointer 80 indicates the actual temperature in the oven at any giventime. When the pointer reaches its initial vertical position, indicatingthat the desired temperature has been reached, the valve member 28 is inits throttling position, wherein it permits the flow of sufficient gasto the burner to maintain the oven at the desired temperature.

If the oven temperature should thereafter continue to increase, thebellows 33 moves rod 46 further to the left and seats the valve,whereupon further contraction of bellows 33 is accommodated by the rod46 sliding to the left through the opening in valve member 29 andagainst the spring 41 and by bending of the compensator 43. Thisadditional advance of rod 46 also moves screw 'Il further to the left,thereby rotating pointer 80 further along the scale and beyond theindex, so that the top of the pointer is at the left side of. the index.The pointer thus indicates by its position relative to the index thatthe oven temperature is too high with respect to the temperature forwhich the dial is set, and also indicates on .the scale the extent towhich the oven temperature is too high.

When the oven cools, the bellows 33 expands and spring 41- moves rod 46to the right through the valvemember until nut 48 re-engages the valvemember and moves it back to its throttling position. The screw 1|, underthe action of spring 14, follows rod 46 to the right and is thus rotatedin the opposite direction in bushing 10, that is, in a clockwisedirection. Clockwise rotation of the screw causes pointer 80 to movedown the scale toward its initial vertical position under the index, andwhen the pointer reaches this position, the operator is informed thatthe oven temperature has returned to, that for which the dial is set. Ifthe oven should moi below the temperature for which the dial is set, therod 46 is moved further to the right to open the valve 6 wider, and thescrew 1| is thereby caused to rotate further in a clockwise directiondown the scale so that the top of the pointer moves to the right of theindex. The pointer thus indicates by its position relative to the indexthat the oven 10 temperature is too low with respect to the dialsetting,'and indicates on the scale the extent to which the temperatureis too low.

In setting the dial from a high temperature to a lower one, it isrotated in a counter-clockwise 115 direction and turns the pointer withit, so that the pointer continues to point to the graduation on scale 69corresponding to the oven temperature. The top of the pointer is thusmoved to the left of the index and indicates that the temgo perature ofthe oven is too high. Assuming that the dial is now set for 250, as theoven cools to that temperature, the bellows 33 moves rod 46 to theright, whereby screw II is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction andmove the pointer down the scale toward its initial vertical positionunder the index. When the oven temperature reaches 250, the pointer isunder the fixed index and points to the graduation "250 on the scale.

'It will be observed that the pointer 60 of the 39 new regulatorperforms two functions. That is,

it shows by its position relative to the index whether the oven is toohot or too cold with respect to the temperature for which the dial isset,

and it shows on the scale of the dial the actual temperature in theoven. Adjustment of the dial rotates screw 1! against the end of rod 46,thereby causing the pointer to follow the movement of the dial and scalewithout affecting the connection of the pointer to the bellows, andaccordingly the dial adjustment does not affect the indication ofoven'temperatures on the'scale. Also, adjustment of the dial has noaffect on the indication of the relation between the. oven temperatureand that for which the dial is set,- because when the dial is set to anew tempera are, the top of the pointer moves to one side or t other ofthe index, depending on whether the new temperature is higher or lowerthan the-oven temperature.

In setting the dial to a given higher temperature, the valve member ismoved away from its seat a distance proportionalto the amount which thedial and pointer are rotated, but when the oven is heated to the newtemperature, the valve member does not return to its seat but assumes athrottling position spaced a slight distance from the seat. This shorterreturn movement effected by rod 46 should rotate the pointer 86 backthrough the same angle through which .it was no rotated by the dial insetting the valve member, and to this end the lead of square thread 'II'is made somewhat less than that of the thread 46' on rod 46. Thedifference in the leads of these threads is determined by the spacing ofthe valve member from its seat when the valve is throttling. ln most"instances, the valve memberin its throttli gv position is spaced only aslight distance from its seat, and accordingly the lead of thread 46will be only slightly greater than that of thread ll. While the leads ofthe threads 46' and 'II' are only slightly different, their helix anglesdiffer greatly due to the fact that the diameter of the threaded portion46' is'substantially greater than that of screw II. The diameter of thethreaded portion of rod 46 is so prothe compensating strip 43 bows inthe opposite er than the angle of rest.

. The regulator may be readily calibrated by removing the dial fromwasher I56 and unloosing the screws 53 which clamp washers 56 and 60 10to the key washer 53. The washers 56 and 66 may then be rotated on shaft50 to effect the desired calibration, the scale 66 onthe washer 66serving as a guide in the calibrating operation. In the adjustment ofdial washer 56 on the shaft, 16 the stop washer 60 is moved with thedial washer by the screws 59, so that the stop 6! for the dial isheld ina fixed relation to the temperature graduations while the positionof thegraduations isvaried relative to the shaft. Accordingly, the :0 stop6lwill engage lug 6| on the casing when the dial is in its on position,regardless of the calibration of the instrument. It will be apparentthat the axial position of the dial on shaft 50 may be varied byremoving the dial and wash- 28 ers 56 and 60 from key washer 63, movingthe key washer into a different groove 52 in the shaft, and thenreassembling the parts.

In some installations, the regulator may be mounted a on the range nearan open burner 30 which might heat and expand the liquid in chamber 36.Such expansion of the liquid would cause a false actuation of the valve,unless suitable provision were made to correct for the action of theexternal heat. In the new regulator, when 36 the liquid in chamber 36expands due to external heat, thereby urging rod 46 to the left, thebimetallic strip 43 bows so that the intermediate portion thereof movesto the right. The retainer 45 urges the head of rod 46 against strip 43,0 whereby the rod followsthe intermediate portion 7 of the strip to theright and compensates for the liquid expansion in chamber 36. When theexternal heat source permits the liquid in chamber 36 to cool, causingrod 46 to move to the right, 45

direction so as to force the head of pin 46 to the left an equal amount.The corrugations 43' prevent bowing of the compensator in a directiontransverse to its length but do not effect longi- 50 tudinal bowingthereof, and longitudinal bowing of the compensator is thereforeunretarded. Accordingly, the compensator may be made relatively smalland will still perform the same amount of work as larger compensators ofthis 55 type as made heretofore.

It will be apparent that by reason of the double valve seat 23-46 of thenew valve, the fit between rod 46 and valve member 26 may be relativelyloose, because when the valve member 50 is seated it closes the gaspassage 21 in the valve seat from the central opening in the valvemember. By removing the body 2| of the casing from section 20, accessmay be had to the valve mechanism, whereby the strap 42, compensator c543, retainer 45, rod 46, adjustment nut 43 and valve member 23 may beremoved as a unit to facilitate cleaning thereof. The operating shaft 56may also be removed by detaching the dial and washers and the indicatingdisk l9 and with- 70 drawing the shaft from the passage 26 in section20. The actuating means for indicator 60 may. then be removed from theshaft and cleaned. or

adjusted.

If desired, the oven may be provided with a 7 pilot (not shown) suppliedwith gas by a pipe 82 threaded in one side of section 28 andcommunicating through a transverse passage 83 with gas passage 21. Thesupply of gas from passage 21 to the pilot may be adjusted by a screw 84extending transversely through the passage 83, that is, lengthwise ofthe casing. The screw 84 is provided with shoulders 85 and 85' atopposite ends of the threaded portion thereof, and these shoulders coactwith shouldersin the casing and form grease or packing chambers actingas a double seal. The flow of gas through by-pass 88 may be regulated byan adjustment screw 81 similar .to screw 84.

made up of a front section 98 and a rear section 9| connected togetherby bolts 92. A cup 98 is mounted on the back of the casing with its openend toward the casing, and a metal bellows 94 sealed within the cupforms a space 95 between the cup and bellows constituting an expansibleand contractible chamber. The open end of cup 93 is sealed to the casingby an annulus 98 disposed between the casing and a flange 93 on the cup,the cup and annulus being held tightly against the casing by bolts 91. Acapillary tube 98 communicates with chamber 95 and is sealed at one endin an opening in cup 93. The tube 98 extends to a bulb (not shown) whichis adapted to be located in the oven, and the bulb, tube and chamber arefilled with a thermo-responsive liquid.

A headed pin 99 is disposed in bellows 94 with its head seated againstthe end of the bellows, the shank of the pin extending forwardly into asleeve 99' in which the pin is slidable. The rear end of the sleeve isformed with a head normally engaging the head of pin 99, while the frontportion of the sleeve is slotted transversely, as shown at 99". Thesleeve 99' extends forwardly through the annulus 98 and an opening inthe back of the casing, the annulus being formed with integral keys 98'which extend into the slot 99' in the sleeve, thereby securing thesleeve against rotation while permitting axial movement thereof. "Aspring I coiled around pin 99 bears at one end against the annulus 98and at the opposite end against the head of the sleeve 99'. Threadedinto the front end of sleeve 99' is a rod 8| through an opening in a baror lever I82 mounted on a pivot pin I89 secured to the rear section 9|.In front of the lever I82, the rod has a shoulder I84 which engages lugsI82 formed on the lever on opposite sides of the opening through whichthe rod extends. The lever I82 is connected to a snap-acting mechanism(not shown) which may take various forms but is preferably of the formdisclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 180,710, filedDecember 20, 1937. The snap-acting mechanism is adapted to actuate amember I in the casing and thereby open and close a switch (not shown).When the chamber 98 contracts sui'iiciently, it moves rod IM and leverI82 to the right and causes the snap-acting mechanism tovclo'se theswitch. The snap-acting mechanism is self-restoring so that when thechamber 95 expands and moves the shoulder on rod I8I away from leverI82, the switch is opened.

The rod IN is provided with an enlarged hollow portion I88 in front ofshoulder I84, and the front end of the rod is formed with a pair ofradial, diametrically opposed lugs I8'I which fit into a yoke I08 at therear end of a shaft I88.

which extends forwardly in the casing The shaft I88 is rotatable inabushing I89 mounted in a hollow boss II8 forming the front of section98 of the casing. A shoulder III on the shaft engages the rear end ofbushing I89 and thereby locates the axial position of. the shaft in thecasing. At thefront of shaft I88 is a dial 83a similar to the dial89 andmounted on the shaft by a washer assembly similar to that illustrated inFig. 1, except for the stop washer 88a. The latter washer is formed witha lug 8Ia which engages a stop II2 on the boss II8 when the dial is inits off position. The stop II2 also serves to secure a washer II8 whichclosely surrounds the shaft and is disposed between the end of boss H8and a shoulder II4 on the shaft, whereby the shaft is held againstrearward movement in the casing.

A cam I I5 on washer 88a co-acts with a headed pin II8 extending throughboss H8 and slidable therein. The head on pin H8 is located in a recessI I1 formed on the inside of section 98 and normally engages one end ofa leaf spring H8 which is doubled back and secured at the opposite endto the casing. The body of spring II8 normally engages the switch memberI85, and when the dial is in its 011" position, the cam II5 through pinH8 and spring II8 holdsthe member I 85 away from the switch contacts,whereby the snap-acting mechanism cannot close the switch. However, whenthe dial is turned from its oif" position, the pin II8 rides down theface of cam II5 under the action of spring Ill, so that the switchmember I85 is released and may be actuated by the snap-acting mechanism.

The temperature in the oven is indicated by means comprising a pin I28extending through a central bore in rod I M and seated at its rear endagainst the end of pin 99. A cylindrical bushing 18a fits closely in acentral bore in shaft I88 and is held against rotation therein by lugsI2I on the bushing which extend into the yoke I08 on the shaft. A screwIla extends through bushing 18a and engages the front end of pin I28.The screw Ila is formed with a square thread or groove similar to thethread II (Fig. 11-), and a screw 19a in the bushing extends into thesquare thread. A spring 140. coiled around the screw I la is secured atits front end to the screw and is seated at its rear end in a recess inthe front end of bushing 18a and secured to the bushing in any suitablemanner. A sleeve 18a. is mounted on the front end of screw Ila. and hasa disk 19a secured thereto, the disk being rotatable with the screw. Thefmntface of disk Ila is provided with a pointer '(not shown) similar tothe pointer 88 shown in Fig. 9.

The heating coil in the oven is connected through wiring I22 andterminals I28 to the switch contacts in the casing. When the oven is notin use, the dial is in its oil' position wherein the switch is heldopen, and the pointer on disk 19a is held in a vertical position by thebellows through pin I28 and screw Ila. The pointer thus points upwardlyto a fixed index on the range (not shown), with reference to which thedial is adjusted. When the oven is to be heated, the dial is rotated ina clockwise direction until the graduation thereon corresponding to thedesired oven temperature is under the index. In this operation, the rodMI is screwed inwardly in pin 99 and moves lever I82 to the right so asto actuate the snap-acting mechanism and close the switch. Adjustment ofthe dial also rotates bushing I80. and screw Na and causes the pointeron disk 19a to turn with the dial, so that the pointer continues topoint to the word "oif? on the dial.

As the oven commences to heat, the chamber 95 expands and moves rod "IIto the left, thereby permitting the snap-acting mechanism to move leverI02 to the left toward its critical or dead-center position. Thismovement of rod lfll also urges screw Ila to the left in bushing 10aagainst the action of spring Ila, so that the screw is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction by the action 011 the element 13a in thescrew thread. The pointer on indicator disk 19a is thus moved in acounter-clockwise direction up the scale on dial 63a, until it arrivesat its initial vertical position under the fixed index and points to thetemperature on the scale for which the dial is set. Simultaneously, thelever I02 is moved through its dead-center position and causes thesnap-acting mechanism to actuate member ")5 and re-open the switch. Ifthe oven temperature should continue to increase, screw Ila is rotatedfurther in a counter-clockwise direction, so that the top of the pointermoves to the left of the fixed index. When the oven cools, chamber 95contracts and moves rod llll to the right, whereupon spring 14a urgesscrew Ha to the right and thereby rotates it in a clockwise direction,so that the pointer on disk 19a moves back toward its initial verticalposition under the index. Thereafter, adjustment of the dial to either ahigher or a lower temperature setting does not affect the indication ofthe oven temperature on the scale, because the pointer on disk 19a.moves with the dial without afl'ecting the connection between bellowspointer.

In the construction shown in Fig. 12, adjustment of the dial to a highertemperature setting moves rod lfll to the right an amount determined bythe angle through which the dial and disk 19a are rotated, and when theoven is heated to the new temperature, the rod IOI is moved back to itsinitial position by bellows 94. Accordingly, in order that this returnmovement of rod llll may turn the-indicator disk' 19a back through thesame angle through which it was turned by the dial, the lead of thethread in screw Ila should be "the; same as that of the 94 and thethread on rod llll. Otherwise, these threads are the same as the threadsII and 46', respectively. shown in Fig. 1. v

I claim:

1. In a regulator for controlling the temperature in an appliance, ahandle movable to different temperature settings for adjusting theregulator, a-scale of temperature graduations connected to the handleand movable with the handle for indicating difl'erentternperaturesettings thereof, a temperature indicator, a thermoresponsive element, aconnection between the thermo-responsive element and said indicator formoving the indicator relative to the scale to indicate temperatures onthe scale, and an operative connection between the handle and saidtemperature indicator independent of said first connection and operableto move the indicator with the scale while the thermo-responsive.element is stationary. I I

2. In a temperature regulator, thermo-responsive control means,adjusting means movable to different temperature settings for adjustingthe control means, a scale of temperature graduations movable with theadjusting means, a pointconnection between the pointer and said elementincluding a pair of normally engaged, relatively movable members, and aconnection between the adjusting means and pointer including the part ofsaid first connection between one of said relatively movable members andthe pointer, said last connection being operable to move the pointerwith the adjusting means and scale while maintaining said members inengagement.

3. In a temperature regulator, a handle movable to different temperaturesettings for adjusting the regulator, a temperature indicating meansincluding an indicator near the handle, a thermo-responsive element formoving-the indicating means, a scale of temperature graduations movablewith the handle for indicating different temperature settings thereofand with reference to which the indicator is moved to indicatetemperatures on the scale, and coaxial, independent connections betweenthe handle and the indicating means and between the thermoresponsiveelement and the indicating means, respectively, the connection betweenthe handle and the indicating means beingoperable to move saidindicating means with the scale while the thermo-responsive element isstationary.

4. A temperature regulator comprising control means, adjusting meansmovable to diflferent temperature settings for adjusting the controlmeans, a scale of temperature graduations for indicating differentsettings of the adjusting means, an indicator cooperating with thescale, a thermo-responsive element for actuating the control means, amember rotatable clockwise by movement of said element in one directionand counter-clockwise bymovel'nent of said element in the oppositedirection, said member for relatively moving the scale and indicator,and a connection between the adjusting means and said member forrotating the a bushing, a member movable axially in the bushing forrelatively moving the scale and indicator, means for rotating the memberclockwise in the bushing in response to axial movement thereof in onedirection and counter-clockwise in response to axial movement thereof inthe opposite direction, thermo-responsive means for actuating thecontrol means and engaging one end of said member to move the memberaxially, and a connection from the adjusting means through the bushingto said member for rotating the member against the adjacent end of thethermo-responsive means.

6. A temperature regulator comprising control means, adjusting meansmovable to different temperature settings for adjusting the controlmeans, a scale of temperature graduations for indicating diiferentsettings of the adjusting means, an indicator cooperating with thescale, a bushing, a member in the bushing having a helical thread, anelement in the bushing engaged in said thread, thermo-responsive meansfor actuating said control means and engaging one end of said member formoving the same axially in the bushing to rotate the member, meansoperable by said member for relatively means connected to moving thescale and indicator, and a connection from the adjusting means throughthe bushing to said member for rotating the member independently of thethermo-responsive means.

7. A temperature-regulator comprising control means, a hollow shaftrotatable to difierent temperature settings for adjusting the controlmeans, a scale of temperature graduations for indicating differentsettings of the shaft, an indicator cooperating with the scale, a memberin the shaft rotatable therewith and movable axially therein, a threadedconnection between said member and the shaft for causing the member torotate upon axial movement thereof in the shaft, thermo-responsive meansfor actuating said-control means and engaging one end of said member formoving the same axially in the shaft, and means operable by said memberfor relatively moving the scale and indicator.

8. A temperature regulator comprising a control member, athermo-responsive element extending through the control member foractuating the same, means threaded on one end of said element foradjusting the control member,a hollow shaft rotatable to adjust saidmeans, a member in the shaft rotatable therewith and movable axiallytherein, one end of the rotatable member engaging the threaded end ofthe thermo-responsive element and movable axially thereby ,means forrotating said last member upon axial movement thereof in the shaft, andtemperature indicating means operable by said rotatable member.

9. A temperature regulator comprising a control member, athermoeresponsive element extending through the control member foractuating the same, a nut threaded on one end of said element foradjusting the control member, a

. hollow shaft having a shoulder therein and rotatable'to adjust saidnut, a bushing in the shaft having a shoulder normally engaging saidshoulder in the shaft, a member in the bushing rotatable therewith andmovable axially therein, one end of said last member engaging thethreaded end of'the thermo-responsive element and movable axiallythereby, means for rotating saidmember upon axial movement thereof inthe bushing, and temperature indicating means operable by said rotatablemember.

10. A temperature regulator comprising a valve and a seat therefor, athermo-responsive element for actuating the valve, a nut threaded on oneend of said element for adjusting the valve, a handle for adjusting thenut to move the valve away from its seat, a rotatable memberengaging thethreaded end of the thermoresponsive element and movable axiallythereby, threaded means for causing said member to rotate upon axialmovement of the member, and temperature indicating means rotatable bysaid member relative to the handle and rotatable with-the handleindependently of the thermorespon'sive element, the lead of the threadof said threaded means being less than the lead of the thread on theadjustmentnut whereby the indicating means is 'rota'ed with the handlethrough a selected angle in one direction on movement of the handle tounseat the valve and is rotated by said member through the same angle inthe opposite direction upon return movement of the valve by thethermo-responsive element to a throttling position spaced from saidseat.

11. A' temperature regulator comprising a valve and a seat therefor, athermo-responsive element for actuating the valve, a nut threaded on oneend of said element for adjusting the valve, a handle for adjusting thenut to move the valve away from its seat, a rotatable member engagingthe threaded end of the thermoresponsive element and movable axiallythereby, threaded means for causing said member to rotate upon axialmovement of the member, and temperature indicating means rotatable bysaid member relative to the handle and rotatable with the handleindependently of the thermo-responsive element, the helix angle of thethread of said threaded means being greater than the angle of rest andthe helix angle of the thread on said adjustment nut being less than theangle of rest, whereby the nut is prevented from rotating under thethrust of the thermo-responsive element but said member is rotated underthe action of said thrust.

12. A temperature regulator comprising a control element movable betweenoperative and inoperative positions, thermo-responsive means for movingsaid element, a temperature adjustment handle, a threaded connectionbetween the handle and said control element for adjusting the positionthereof, a rotatable member engaging the thermo-responsive means andmovable axially thereby, threaded means for causing said member torotate relative to the handle upon axial movement of the member, andtemperature indicating means rotatable by said member relative to thehandle and rotatable with the handle independently of saidthermo-responsive means, the lead of the thread from said connectionbeing substantially equal to the lead of the thread of said threadedmeans whereby the indicating means is rotated with the handle through aselected angle in one direction on rotation of the handle to move saidelement to its operative position and is rotated by said member throughthe same angle in the opposite direction upon operation of saidthermo-responsive means to return the control element to its inoperativeposition.

13. In a temperature regulator and indicator, a control means,temperature indicating means, a thermo-responsive member for actuatingthe control means and operating the indicating means, an adjustmentmember operable to move the control means to different temperaturesettings, and a pivotal connection between the thermo responsive memberand said indicating means including an element disposed within theadjustment member and movable axially therein for transmitting movementof the thermo-responsive member to the indicating means.

14. In a temperature regulator, a thermo-responsive element movablelinearly, control means actuated thereby, an operating shaft foradjusting the control means to different temperature settings, atemperature indicator in front of the shaft, and means extending throughthe shaft for translating linear movement of the thermoresponsiveelement to rotary movement of said indicator.

15. In a temperature regulator, a thermo-responsive element movablelinearly, control means actuated thereby, an adjustable connectionbetween the thermo-responsive element and said control means, manuallyoperable means for adjusting said connection to difierent temperaturesettings, a temperature indicator, and threaded means extending throughsaid manual means for translating linear movement of thethermoresponsive element to rotary movement of said indicator.

16. A temperature regulator comprising a valve, a thermo-responsiveelement for actuating the valve, a nut threaded on one end of said'element for adjusting the valve, means for adjusting said nut to movethe valve to different temperature settings, a rotatable member engagingthe threaded end of the theme-responsive element and movable axiallythereby, a threaded connection between said rotatable member and theadjusting means for causing the member to rotate relative to theadjusting means upon axial movement of said member, and temperatureindieating means operable by said member and movable with the adjustingmeans while the thermo-responslve element is stationary.

BENSON F. WADDEIL.

